Authorities in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh demolish 59-year-old madrasa Opposition calls demolition an “open hate agenda against Muslims
Lucknow: Authorities in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh demolished a 59-year-old madrasa in Siddharthnagar district using bulldozers, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders and activists, who called the action “unconstitutional” and part of an “open hate agenda against Muslims”.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Arabia Zia-ul-Uloom Madrasa, also known as Maktab Madrasa, spread across around 14,000 square feet in Pipra Ramlal village, was demolished after a court order upheld the administration’s claim that it had encroached on government land.
In 2022, five villagers approached the Domariyaganj Tehsildar’s Court seeking the removal of the alleged encroachment, following which the court ordered eviction in 2023. Madrasa caretaker Abdul Salam challenged the order before the District Magistrate’s Court the same year. After nearly three years of proceedings, the court upheld the Tehsildar’s order on August 14, 2026, and dismissed the madrasa’s petition.
The administration subsequently issued a notice directing the removal of the alleged encroachment and deployed bulldozers to demolish the structure. Nearly 100 police personnel from five police stations were deployed at the site during the operation.
The demolition triggered protests by Domariyaganj Samajwadi Party MLA Saiyeda Khatoon, SP district president Lalji Yadav and more than 50 party workers, who reached the site and raised slogans against the action. A heated exchange and a scuffle broke out when police tried to stop the protesters. Police later erected barricades and moved the protesters away from the site. Within around two hours, seven rooms, a shop and half of the madrasa’s hall had been demolished.
The Aam Aadmi Party’s Uttar Pradesh unit termed the action “unconstitutional”, questioning when the notice was issued and whether the affected party had been given an opportunity to present its case.
Congress leader Javed Ashraf Khan described the demolition as “open hate agenda against Muslims”, asking whether the BJP and RSS had “any solution besides destruction” and urged the Supreme Court to intervene.
Political activist Abdur Raqueeb Khan stressed that the law must be applied equally to everyone, questioning whether all constitutional and legal procedures had been followed before the madrasa was demolished.
